Columbus City Council gives $375,000 to Community Crime Patrol

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Council has approved $375,000 for Community Crime Patrol, a not-for-profit crime prevention organization that deploys teams of trained citizen patrollers in several neighborhoods.

“They look for criminal activities, suspicious behavior, burned out street lights, water leaks... anything that impacts the quality of life in a neighborhood,” said Ellen Moore Griffin, executive director of Community Crime Patrol.

Griffin said the patrollers work in pairs. She believes their role is to be the added security that makes people feel more comfortable in their neighborhood at night.

“They are just extra eyes and ears. You know when you have someone out there that is looking out for things, you are in your home or asleep, it’s an extra layer of security,” said Griffin.

The patrollers are in six neighborhoods including Merion village, the Hilltop and around The Ohio State University.

In February, the organization had 14 assists and made 25 environmental reports. In Merion Village, they had eight assists and 23 environmental reports.

Chuck Jones who lives in Merion village said he sees patrollers all the time.

“We have kids moving back in the neighborhood finally and anything we can do to make our neighborhoods safer for families, I’m good with it,” said Jones.

Jones said having patrols around when he’s at home or asleep makes him feel more comfortable.

“Criminals don’t like to be watched or seen,” he said.

Abigail Reeder, a student at Ohio State said she appreciates the extra security.

“It makes me feel good because I feel like there is a lot of crime in Columbus, and around campus and I do get scared walking around by myself,” said Reeder.

Although the patrollers aren’t armed, their presence makes a difference for some knowing help is right around the corner.

“We know help is not far away if something were to happen,” said Jones.

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